Pong Game

How to play pong online

1. Open the table on this page. Set Mode to “1 player vs computer” (the default) or “2 players”.
2. In 1-player mode, set Computer to Easy, Medium (the default) or Hard.
3. Set First to to 5, 7 (the default) or 11 points.
4. Start the match with Space, a tap or click on the table, or any paddle key (↑ ↓ W S).
5. In 1-player mode you are the left paddle. Move the mouse over the table, drag a finger on the table, or use ↑ / ↓ or W / S.
6. In 2-player mode on one keyboard, use W / S for the left paddle and ↑ / ↓ for the right paddle. On a touchscreen, the left half of the table moves the left paddle and the right half moves the right paddle.
7. Press Space or P to pause and resume. Press N to start a new match.
8. Watch the Score chip above the table: it shows the left player’s points first. When one side reaches the target, the match ends and a dialog shows the result; in 1-player mode it also updates your Wins and Best win for that computer level and target.

The New game button also starts a fresh match, and changing any select does the same. The Fullscreen button, or the F key, enlarges the table. Press Esc to leave fullscreen. The game pauses by itself if you switch tabs or the window loses focus, and it does not resume until you do.

Pong game rules

A match begins when you start it, and the ball waits in the middle for 0.9 seconds before it is served. The ball then leaves at a slightly random angle, up to about 25 degrees up or down. The serve alternates after each point: the first serve goes toward the right player, the next toward the left, and so on. A point goes to the player whose opponent lets the ball pass their edge. The first player to 5, 7 or 11 points wins, and there is no need to win by two.

How does the ball bounce in pong?

The ball reflects off the top and bottom edges of the table, so the angle going out equals the angle coming in. Paddle hits work differently. The direction of the return depends on where the ball touches the paddle. A hit at the centre sends the ball straight across, at 0 degrees. A hit at the edge sends it out at 60 degrees up or down, and hits in between give angles in between. The ball always leaves toward your opponent.

How fast does the ball move in pong?

Each serve starts the ball at the same speed. Every paddle hit makes it 6 percent faster, so long rallies get quicker and quicker, until the ball reaches a top speed of a little over twice the serve speed. Wall bounces do not change the speed. After roughly 15 paddle hits in one rally, the ball is at its maximum speed.

How does the computer play pong?

The computer moves only up and down, at a limited speed. It tracks the ball only while the ball is coming toward it and drifts back toward the middle otherwise, and it re-aims only every so often, with a small aiming error. Each level changes all three: Easy moves slowest, re-aims least often and misses by the most; Hard moves fastest, re-aims often and aims closely, but it still cannot always reach a steep, fast return.

Pong game strategy and tips

Aim your returns with the paddle edge. A ball hit near the edge leaves at a steep angle, which is harder for the computer to reach. Use this on Hard, where the computer aims more accurately but still cannot cover the table if the ball is angled sharply.

Keep your paddle near the middle when the ball is far away. A centred paddle has the shortest distance to any return.

Expect the serve. Because the serve alternates after each point, you know which side the next serve will come from. Use the 0.9-second pause to move your paddle to the right position.

Watch the speed. Each hit adds 6 percent, so long rallies become hard to track. Move early rather than waiting for the ball to arrive.

A keyboard moves your paddle at a fixed speed, while a mouse or finger puts it at the pointer’s height at once, which helps against fast balls.

Frequently asked questions

Is pong game free, and do I need to sign up?

Yes, it is free, and you can start playing right away. There is no account to create: the game runs entirely in your browser and sends nothing over the network.

Can I play pong game on a phone?

Yes. The table fits 375 px and 320 px phone screens without sideways scrolling. On a touchscreen, drag a finger on the table to move your paddle. Dragging on the table does not scroll the page.

Is my pong game saved if I reload the page?

A running match is not saved. Reloading starts a fresh match. Your settings (mode, computer level and points) and your win records stay on this device.

Can two people play pong game together?

Yes. Choose “2 players” in the Mode select. On one keyboard, use W / S for the left paddle and ↑ / ↓ for the right paddle. On a touchscreen, each half of the table controls its own paddle. The mouse does not move paddles in 2-player mode.

Why does my Best win show a score like 7–2?

Best win shows the fewest points the computer scored in a match you won, for that computer level and points setting. A score of 7–2 means you won 7 points to the computer’s 2. Losses are not counted, and there are no records in 2-player mode.

Does pong game have sound?

No. This version has no sound.

Why does the ball sometimes get past the computer on Hard?

The ball can move faster than the paddle. A steep return hit near the paddle edge can get past the computer, even on Hard, because the computer’s paddle cannot always move far enough in time.

More games

• Brick Breaker: Pick this if you like a ball-and-paddle game where the goal is to clear a set of targets.
• Snake Game: Try this for a game of steering and growing, played against the clock of your own movements.
• Bubble Shooter: Choose this when you want to aim and shoot coloured bubbles at a cluster.
• Tic Tac Toe: Use this for a quick two-player game of marking a grid.
• Dots and Boxes: Pick this for a two-player game of drawing lines to close boxes.
• 2048: Try this if you enjoy sliding number tiles and planning several moves ahead.
• Stacker Game: stop a sliding row of blocks at the right moment to build a tower to the top.